Influential LA Producer Ras G Has Died

39-year-old hip-hop pioneer and funk producer Ras G has passed away. Born Gregory Shorter Jr, the artist was known for his cutting-edge Afrofuturist music, famed for interweaving jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop and psychedelia.

Although the cause of his death is still unknown, Ras G did update his followers on Instagram months prior, noting that he had been hospitalised with pneumonia, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism and heart failure.

Flying Lotus & Ras G's label Brainfeeder took to social media to confirm the news, referring to him as "one of the most important figures in the Los Angeles beat scene".